Ghost Hunting with Derek Acorah. Derek Acorah

       CHAPTER 1 Preparation

      Preparation is essential for a successful ghost hunt, both to gain satisfactory evidence of any spirit activity and to rule out any other explanations. What will you need?

      Equipment

      As a spirit medium, I both see and hear spirit naturally. I am able to pick up events that have taken place in a building from the atmosphere there. I like to think of such events as ‘photographs in time’, but they are more commonly known as residual energies, emotions from times gone by that linger in the fabric of a place.

      Although many paranormal groups turn to mediums for assistance in their investigations, investigators will also need to include items of a more worldly nature in their kitbags to give tangible proof of spirit activity.

       A Torch

      One obvious item is a torch. Take a supply of replacement batteries too—mischievous spirit presences like nothing better than to drain battery power and a

      hapless investigator who has forgotten to pack extra batteries could well end up fumbling around in the dark.

       Notebooks and Pens

      Notebooks and pens will enable you to record details of events as they occur. The worst thing to do is to rely on memory, as after a long night’s investigation recall can be blurred, especially if there have been many exciting incidents.

      It is also a good idea to make a rough sketch of the location before commencing an investigation, numbering rooms for ease of reference.

      Plain sheets of white paper and pencils are also a necessity so that an item or ‘trigger object’ can be placed on the paper and its outline traced. Any subsequent movement of the object can then easily be detected. Wooden crosses of a suitable size seem to be popular as trigger objects, though any item which has an easily traceable outline may be used.

       Cotton and Tape

      It may be necessary to seal off certain rooms whilst tests are conducted. As security is not the issue here, simple black cotton and adhesive tape may be used.

      A sealed room is the ideal location for a trigger object or for strategically placed cameras that will record any activity taking place.

       Candles

      Household candles should also be included in the kit, as the flickering of their flames may reveal a spirit presence. Checks should be made prior to starting the investigation to ensure that there are no draughts which could cast doubt over the cause of a flickering flame. Of course lit candles must never be left unattended purely from a safety point of view.

       Flour

      Prior to the investigation a raid on the kitchen cupboard should be made to acquire a bag of ordinary flour. When sprinkled over the floor this will reveal any footprints—or handprints, if sprinkled on a tabletop. A small soft brush should be used to distribute the flour over the desired area. Care should always be taken when investigating a property owned by another person and it may well be a good idea to spread the flour over sheets of old newspaper.

       Walkie-Talkies

      Walkie-talkies or two-way radios are a good way for investigators to keep in touch with one another during an investigation. If you are contemplating splitting up into groups, or even going off individually whilst investigating a location, it is always a good idea to be able to contact your fellow investigators.

       A Thermometer

      A thermometer is a must in order to detect fluctuations in the temperature of a room. I have seen large green-house-type thermometers used, but of course the serious ghost hunter will invest in a digital thermometer which gives the exact temperature on an ‘easy to read’ digital display.

       An EMF Meter

      An electro-magnetic field or EMF meter is worth acquiring. These measure fluctuations in electro-magnetic energy. Parapsychologists and paranormal investigators are of the general opinion that spirits cause such fluctuations.

      When investigating a property using an EMF meter, all sources of electricity, i.e. cabling, and all electrical devices must be carefully noted, as such items also generate electro-magnetic fields. Any fluctuations displayed on the EMF meter should then be checked against the location of the electrical wiring. Once all such electricity sources have been established, anything registering over 2.5 milligauss on the EMF meter indicates a possible ghostly presence. I have found, however, that EMF meters are not always capable of delivering an accurate indication of a spirit presence.

       Pendulums and Dowsing Rods

      Some ghost hunters favour the use of dowsing rods and pendulums. It is alleged that both devices can pick up the electro-magnetic energy field of a ghost.

      Dowsing has been in use for many years. In ancient times, a ‘Y’-shaped stick would be used to trace underground water sources. Today people tend to use a pair of specially prepared dowsing rods made of thick wire. Each rod is a basic ‘L’ shape but with a shorter foot and a longer upright. A rod is taken in each hand, with the shorter length held firmly in each fist and the longer end sticking straight out in front. Upon reaching an area of psychic activity, the rods will begin to swing wildly and cross over each other. Before attributing a dowsing rod reaction to paranormal activity, however, checks should be made to ensure there are no underground streams or other sources of water in the area.

      It is said that most paranormal activity takes place in areas where many ley lines are present or at the junction of ley lines, so if investigators are aware of the location of these lines, they will have a clearer idea of where to commence their dowsing. To discover where these lines run, initially investigators would have to make enquiries of people at the locations or conduct prior research. They could of course spend many long hours walking backwards and forwards trying to determine the route of ley lines, but that could well be a complete waste of time as they could find that they had simply been following the route of an underground stream or water source.

      Pendulums may also be used in psychic investigations. A pendulum is a length of cord which is attached to either a small weight constructed from wood or metal or, as is my preference, a small quartz crystal suspended from a light chain approximately seven or eight inches in length. Hold the end of the chain, allowing the pendulum to hang straight down. The pendulum must be completely still. It must then be asked to indicate ‘yes’ and ‘no’. It will respond by either revolving in a clockwise or an anticlockwise direction; it may swing from side to side or backwards and forwards. It is up to each individual to establish the relevant response and its meaning, as these can differ from person to person.

      Once you have established the relevant pendulum reactions for ‘yes’ and ‘no’, you can ask the pendulum many questions. It can also be used to locate psychically active areas in much the same way as dowsing rods. It will swing or spin more and more rapidly as it comes closer to psychic energy or a spirit presence.

      Not all investigators use dowsing rods or pendulums, but they can add an interesting element to paranormal investigations.

       A Tape Recorder

      A tape recorder is a definite must, both to record events during séances and to place at strategic points within the location in order to record possible spirit activity. Over the years there